San Jacinto College outfielder earns 3 prestigious national honors

Rob Vanya - 6/9/2008 San Jacinto College outfielder Kris Miller was a standout on defense, and his 87 RBIs led the nation for the 2008 season.

San Jacinto College North outfielder Kris Miller recently earned three prestigious national honors for his outstanding defensive and offensive play during the 2008 baseball season.

Miller was named Division 1 First Team All-American by the National Junior College Athletic Association; NJCAA Division I Baseball Defensive Player of the Year by Easton, a leading manufacturer of athletic equipment; and Miller earned the NJCAA Rawlings Gold Glove Award. The Rawlings Gold Glove Award is the benchmark of excellence and performance in the field for major leaguers.

Beginning in 2007, Rawlings began presenting the award to collegiate and high school players.

Miller, a sophomore from New Caney, Texas, posted a perfect 1,000 fielding percentage with 70 putouts, five assists and no errors for San Jacinto College this season playing predominately left field.

His outstanding play, which included a .415 batting average, 18 home runs and 87 RBIs, also earned Miller All-Southern District and All-Region honors in NJCAA Region XIV. Miller’s 87 RBIs led the nation for the 2008 season.

Miller said San Jacinto College’s coaching staff helped him to develop and improve in every area of the game.

“San Jacinto College has an outstanding baseball program and I learned so much from the coaches, especially about the defensive part of the game,” Miller commented. “I played shortstop in high school, so they really helped me make the transition from playing infield to playing outfield.”

Miller plans to transfer to Lewis-Clark State University in Lewiston, Idaho, on a baseball scholarship.

For more information about the San Jacinto College baseball program, please visit http://www.sanjac.edu/ and click on the Athletics link.